Beating out grilling and barbecue meccas nationwide, Jackson, Miss., unexpectedly took the title of America's 2005 Grilling Capital based on a variety of parameters analyzed by Kingsford Charcoal in its first "Get Grilling America" omnibus survey. Factors like per capita grill ownership, as well as local sales of charcoal and barbecue sauce, were heavily weighted toward the point total that determined rank, while indirect factors, such as local sales of plastic cutlery and paper plates, received less weight. Bonus points were given for annual cookout festivals and contests, and for the presence of professional or Division I college football teams.
